Prevent Copying Text from a PDF from Google Docs
Preventing text copying from a PDF from Google Docs is done through PDF permissions restrictions. This stops the copy-paste action in most PDF readers and prevents automated text extraction tools from working without the permissions password.
Setting the copy restriction
In Adobe Acrobat, open the PDF, go to Tools > Protect > Encrypt with Password, enable editing and printing restrictions, and in the permissions panel uncheck 'Enable copying of text, images, and other content.' Save with a permissions password. The restriction takes effect immediately.
In PDF24
Open PDF24 Desktop, go to Protect PDF, and in the permissions options disable text copying. Set a permissions password and apply. The same option is available in the PDF24 web tool under the permissions section.
What the restriction blocks
Copy restrictions prevent Ctrl+C text selection in Adobe Acrobat Reader and most standard readers. They do not prevent someone from using OCR software to extract text from the PDF as an image, or from taking a screenshot and running OCR on that. For documents where text extraction is a serious concern, watermarking is a useful additional layer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can recipients still read the document if copying is disabled?
Yes. Copy restrictions only affect copying, not reading. The document renders and displays normally.
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